LECTURE 11: POLITICAL CULTURE AND SOCIALIZATION

This set of flashcards covers the fundamental vocabulary and theoretical frameworks of political culture and socialization, including the works of Almond, Verba, Easton, Dennis, and Inglehart.

Political culture

The deeply rooted set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and emotional attachments that people in a society hold about the political system and their role within it.

Parochial political culture

A type of culture where people have little to no awareness of political systems, do not expect to influence politics, and local customs or authority dominate.

Subject political culture

A culture where citizens are aware of the political system but see themselves as inactive subjects who accept the decisions of authority without expecting to participate.

Participant political culture

A culture where citizens are actively involved in political life, express opinions, and believe in their ability to influence politics through engagement.

Civic Culture

A balanced blend of parochial, subject, and participant types, argued by Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba (1963) to be most conducive to democratic stability.

Political efficacy

The belief held by citizens that their involvement and participation in the political system is meaningful and can influence political outcomes.

Confucian values

Values emphasizing obedience and hierarchy that have historically shaped the political culture of China.

Clientelism

A practice where political parties reward supporters with jobs, contracts, or protection instead of institutional governance, as seen in the political culture of Bangladesh.

Political socialization

The lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalize the political norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape their political identity.

Childhood Political Learning (Easton & Dennis)

The theory by David Easton and Jack Dennis (1960s) stating that children form attachments and trust toward political symbols and figures before understanding abstract political concepts.

Value Change Theory (Ronald Inglehart)

The theory that as societies become economically secure, people shift from prioritizing material values to postmaterialist values like environmentalism and human rights.

Postmaterialist values

Values such as environmentalism, gender equality, self-expression, and human rights that are often prioritized by younger generations in wealthier democracies.

Agents of political socialization

The institutions and social groups, including family, education, peers, and media, through which individuals learn political orientations.

Family (as a socialization agent)

The first and often most influential agent from which children often inherit political orientations, party identification, and ideological leanings.

Education (as a socialization agent)

The agent responsible for imparting civic knowledge, teaching history, government structure, and promoting democratic values such as tolerance.

Media (as a socialization agent)

A powerful agent that frames issues, sets agendas, and shapes political interpretation through platforms like TV or social media echo chambers.

Legitimacy of Institutions

The public belief in the fairness and effectiveness of political institutions, which encourages citizens to comply with laws and accept political outcomes.